The Silent Highlander by Donna Fletcher

Chapter 33

Elysia couldn’t believe her eyes when she turned and Dugan stepped out of the shadows, a dirk in his hand.

Cadell grinned. “I knew as soon as I saw that coin that Dugan could be bought and where my men would have been stopped entering the keep this late, Dugan wouldn’t. All he had to do was say he needed to see Rory.”

Elysia looked at the lad, his hand so tight on the dirk that his knuckles gleamed white. He kept this shoulders squared and his chin tilted up enough to show a spark of defiance. And his eyes held the same tenaciousness she had seen when he talked about seeing his mum kept safe. Dare she hope he meant to help and not harm her. Had he been wise enough to play Cadell a fool? She prayed it was so, since her heart would break to use her dagger on the lad.

“You are such a trusting fool, Elysia. You see people for what you wish them to be, not who they truly are. Most people are rotten down to their soul and will do anything for coin,” Cadell said and gave a nod toward Dugan.”

“Like you, Cadell? Isn’t that why you do this—for coin?” Elysia challenged.

“Aye, I do it for coin and to get away from the madness of the curse. It has claimed too many. Glenis was a fine woman once and we shared a common desire to get away, leave the Highlands. Then she met Tavish and he convinced her to stay and fight the curse and what does she do? She tries to slowly kill Lady Margaret.” He tossed his hands up in a helpless gesture as he shook his head. “Then she takes Bram to her bed to see what she can learn from him to feed me information. I had enough. Then there’s Brogan. Nothing kills that man, and how I wish something did. Even Annis can’t get him killed and believe me when I tell you she’s come close to it from what my men tell me. The coin I get from what I do here will free me from the madness and from these Godforsaken Highlands.”

“Who pays you this coin?” Elysia asked, praying she’d survive to share the news with her husband.

Cadell laughed. “I can’t believe you haven’t realized the truth of it all. He laughed again. “But then you wouldn’t since your honesty and kindness blinds you to the truth. Greed and power rules everything. Understand that and you will have your answer. Now give the lad your dagger.”

Elysia had a choice. She could lunge at Dugan or trust her instinct that he was an honorable lad and wouldn’t harm her. She turned a smile on Cadell. “Unlike you, I believe there is goodness and honor in people.” She held out the knife to Dugan. “I trust you.”

The lad stared at her a moment, then mouthed as he raised the knife… run.

Elysia didn’t hesitate. She ran to the opening that led to the kitchen area and heard Dugan follow behind her.

Cadell’s voice echoed down the stone passageway. “Don’t let her get out of the keep.”

Elysia didn’t look back not even when she heard a clatter behind her as she rushed through the kitchen.

She was only a short distance from the door when she heard a tumble and crash. “Bloody hell, you’re as much trouble as Annis.”

Elysia threw the door open and ran out into the night.

Dugan ran up alongside her. “Hurry and hide, the spill I left won’t hold him long. His men wait in the village. I’ll go alert Finch.”

Elysia took off toward the woods as Dugan ran to the village.

Elysia ran wishing she had put on her shoes, wincing when her bare feet hit a stone or a twig. She didn’t go far into the woods. She was unfamiliar with this area and didn’t know what the woods here held. She could find herself tumbling down a hill or dropping over the edge of a glen. She promised herself when this was done she’d have her husband familiarize her with his land, the thought she’d survive giving her hope.

She stopped and kept herself tucked against the thick trunk of a giant oak tree. The moon was nearly full and without clouds to dim it, it shined unusually bright.

“Get to Finch before the lad does and finish him. Are the men seeing to the other sentinels?”

Elysia listened as Cadell gave orders to one of his men.

“Aye, and some men, spending a night of drinking, were seen to as well. Other men stand guard in case any in the village wake.”

“The Cowan men?” Cadell asked.

“Most sleep and Arnold keeps the one guard occupied with talk.”

“Good. We need to see this done fast and be gone before first light, so we call all be free of this hell hole,” Cadell said.

Elysia wondered why he was taking his time in pursuing her. She could have been deep in the woods by now, yet he stood talking with one of his men as if he’d already caught her.

“Ow! That’s the second time she bit me.”

“Cover my mouth with your hand again and it will be a third time I bite you. And a pox be on you and all the evil in the world, that’s what you’ll suffer for breaking my blackthorn stick… the lot of you.”

Elysia rested her brow against the rough bark of the oak tree and her stomach roiled. That was why Cadell hadn’t chased her. He was going to use Willa to make Elysia come to him.

“You may have gained some of Annis’s courage, Elysia, but not enough to go off deep into the dark woods alone,” Cadell called out. “I know you can hear the old hag—OW! Kick me again and you’ll suffer for it.”

“Run, Lady Elysia, ru—”

Elysia drew back as if she felt the vicious slap that echoed through the woods.

“COWARD—for striking an old woman.”

Elysia had to smile at Willa’s courage, though when she heard her spit, she knew Cadell had drawn blood. He’d also do a lot worse to Willa if she didn’t surrender. Her one hope was that Dugan got to Finch before Cadell’s men got to either of them.

“Let Willa be,” Elysia called out.

“No, Lady Elysia, NO!” Willa shouted and another slap was heard.

Elysia hurried from behind the tree and out of the woods. She approached Cadell slowly, not getting too close.

“If you kill her, he’ll make you suffer unbearable pain. You’ll beg for death, but he won’t let you die. He’ll torture you endlessly and enjoy every moment of it,” Willa warned.

“Lord Odran would have to catch me first,” Cadell said with a laugh.

Willa cackled. “He already has.”

The man beside Willa stepped back, his hand going to the hilt of his sword as he cast a frightened look around him.

“Pay her no mind,” Cadell ordered, though there was uncertainty to his command.

They heard it then. It sounded like thunder shaking the earth and then they saw the torches appearing throughout the village—riders.

Lord Odran had returned.

Elysia turned to run and felt a blow to her back that sent her tumbling forward. She braced her hands over her stomach and twisted as she fell to land on her back. Cadell’s boot came down on her throat before she could move. The warrior beside Willa had disappeared into the woods and the torches drew closer and closer.

Cadell kept a firm pressure to her throat with his boot. “Fight me and I’ll bring my boot down so hard on your stomach that you’ll expel the bairn here and now.”

Elysia froze.

“I’d run if I were you, Cadell, or you’ll suffer mightily when Lord Odran gets his hands on you,” Willa warned.

Cadell laughed, though it was more a snort. “I’m not that much of a fool you, old hag. The only chance I have of either surviving or not dying a horrendous death lies under my boot.”

“What lies under your boot is certain death if you don’t release Lady Elysia,” Willa said.

“GET YOUR BOOT OFF MY WIFE!”

The powerful warning rang like the sound of a tolling bell pounding the ears.

Cadell’s eyes went wide with fright and hurriedly scanned the area.

Tears gathered in Elysia’s eyes upon hearing her husband’s voice. He was here. He would save her. No matter how dire the situation might be, he would save her. She heard Cadell gasp and his foot eased up off her neck enough for her to turn her head, and her eyes went to where Cadell looked. Her husband had stepped out of the woods and he was a frightening sight?

Spatters of blood marred his face, rivulets of blood ran down his bare muscled arms, and an axe, dripping with blood, was clasped in his hand. But it was what was in his other hand that would frighten the bravest of warriors. He held the severed head of the warrior who had run into the woods.

“If you want to keep your head, Cadell, let my wife go!”

Cadell pressed his foot against her throat. “I die. She dies.”

Elysia gagged and her hand shot up to try and push his boot off her neck, his threat against the bairn no longer a worry since once he lifted his boot off her throat he’d lose any chance at bargaining for his life. The more she fought, the harder he pressed until she could barely breathe and she had no choice but to still her struggle.

Rage warred in Odran seeing his wife fight for breath. The urge to kill Cadell overwhelmed him, but if he raced at the man a simple stomp of his boot and his wife would be dead. He couldn’t use an archer for fear he’d only wound Cadell, giving him enough time to kill Elysia with his boot or the dagger he gripped in his hand. And from the way his eyes glared in the moonlight, Odran knew he didn’t have much time to stop him. Cadell knew Odran well enough to know not to make the mistake of hesitating as most men did when facing death at his hands.

Odran heard his warriors emerge from the woods behind him, which meant everything was well in hand and Cadell would realize that as well. He would know all was lost for him.

Odran tossed the head aside and took a step toward Cadell, ready for what needed to be done.

Cadell raised his dagger to his throat and kept the pressure on Elysia’s throat. “A stamp of my foot to your wife’s throat and a quick slice across mine and it’s over. You lose and I don’t suffer a horrifically painful death. And, of course, the curse continues to rule. The bloody curse will always rule.”

“Free my wife and I will see you die swiftly, my word on it,” Odran said, taking another step forward, slowly erasing the distance between them

Cadell’s face twisted in anger. “Your wife and bairn will join me in death. How does it feel, Odran, to know your so close and yet too far to save your wife and child?” He cast a quick glance at Elysia as he raised his booted foot to bring it crashing down on her throat.

A horrific roar froze Cadell for a moment before turning to Odran. The man was running at him full charge, but that wasn’t what stunned Cadell. It was the axe that landed in his chest and sent him sprawling backward.

Elysia found herself up in her husband’s arms, her breath still lodged in her throat.

“Slow breaths, Elysia, slow breaths,” he encouraged as she struggled to breathe.

She focused on her husband’s striking green eyes, the love and concern she saw in them helping to calm her, and as her breathing eased, she rested her head on his shoulder.

“Nod, if you and the bairn are otherwise unharmed,” Odran said, and his pounding heart began to calm when she nodded.

She struggled to raise her arms, her strength having waned from her ordeal, and slip them around his neck. She needed to hold on to him, make certain he would stay with her, not let her go, never let her go.

His wife’s slim arms never felt so good around his neck, hugging her snug against him never felt so good, and the relief that she and the bairn were well and safe was more than good—it was a miracle. She was right where she was supposed to be, where she belonged, and where he intended to see her stay.

“You know what to do, Stiles. I will see to my wife. Find me when all is done,” Odran ordered.

Elysia had an abundance of questions for her husband, but at the moment, with her breathing still a bit labored, she remained quiet. There would be time for that. Right now, she was content with her own silence and to be where she was—in her husband’s strong arms.

Her husband turned to walk away and Elysia had to smile hearing Willa.

“I warned them about breaking my blackthorn stick.”

* * *

Elysia lostthe battle with her husband when he refused to allow her to remain in the Great Hall and tend the wounded. It hadn’t helped that everyone there had agreed with him. Berdina had already been busy looking after those in need. She had been relieved to see Dugan had gone unscathed and helped his mum. Rory was mending nicely, thanks to Berdina’s care, and Lendra, though still recovering from her own wounds helped with mixing the herbs to brew and even Lady Margaret helped wrapping some minor wounds. She’d been grateful when her son came and fetched her and was even more pleased that her husband, Lord Fergus, had slept through the whole ordeal. However, when informed of it in the morning, she had no doubt he would not be happy that he missed it all.

Once in their bedchamber Odran had sat on the bed, keeping Elysia in his lap and that’s where they sat now, in silence, holding on to each other.

“I should have never left you,” Odran finally said in a whisper.

“You have a duty to the clan. Besides, you returned and saved me, that’s all that matters,” she reassured him with a gentle kiss to his lips.

He rested his brow to hers. “I feared losing you. I cannot lose you. You gave me reason to live when I had no wont to.” He placed his hand on her stomach. “And you give me hope of a future with family and love. His lips settled on hers, his kiss more demanding than her tender one. And she returned it with a demand of her own, both needing to be close, to be loved.

Odran reluctantly ended the kiss. “If we continue, we both will soon be naked, and I will be deep inside you.”

Elysia pressed her cheek next to his and whispered, “Promise?”

He drew his face away, ready to stand and relieve them both of all their garments when he spotted the blood from his face on hers. He wiped it away with his thumb. “I will not touch you with blood on me. And you need your bare feet tended.”

“I was in a hurry and didn’t want my footfalls heard,” she said with a smile.

“I can only imagine and it angers me when I do.” He scowled at the thought.

She rubbed at his brow. “No more scowls. I say we wash, you speak with Stiles, also let all know that we are well and seek sleep, and with the rest of the night left to us—we make love.”

“I like your idea, wife,” he said and kissed her gently.

A knock sounded at the door and Dorrit called out, “My lord, are you and my lady in need of anything?”

“Extra buckets of water, so we may wash, Dorrit,” Odran ordered.

“I can have a bath made ready,” Dorrit said.

Elysia shook her head when her husband cast her a glance. “Takes too long.”

Odran smiled and called out to Dorrit. “Not necessary, just the buckets of water.”

Elysia stood and grabbed a cloth to wet in the bucket by the hearth. She returned to sit on her husband’s lap and wipe the blood from his face. “What made you return so fast?”

“My trackers were returning to let me know that the information about the border farm was false. It hadn’t been attacked. They met a merchant who had just been there and everyone was fine and he had seen no signs of mercenaries in the area. I sent a couple of men to make sure. I realized then it had to have been a ruse, giving someone time to go after you. But I had no worries since Rory and Finch wouldn’t let anyone near you unless it was someone they and you trusted. My mind went crazy with possibilities of who it might be and if I would reach you in time. When we came across one of the sentinels dead, I feared I was too late. When we clashed with a few of Cadell’s men in the woods, it became obvious who was responsible.”

“It was coin Cadell wanted to use to get away from the curse and the Highlands with all its madness, so he said.” She went on to tell him all that Cadell had told her.

“Glenis betrayed the clan and was poisoning my mum, and she knew Tavish?” he asked as if he could not quite believe what she told him.

Elysia nodded seeing her husband as stunned as she had been at the news. “Cadell told me we are blind to the truth that is right in front of us. I don’t know what he meant and it worries me that someone close is responsible for wanting you, Brogan, and Rannick dead.”

“I will send a message to Rannick to let him know what happened here and tell him to be cautious about those around him. Hopefully, we can get word to Brogan.” He hugged her close. “This isn’t over, Elysia.”

“The mystery continues, but I have faith we will solve it.”

“A knock came again, and several buckets of water were carried into the room. Stiles followed in after the last one.

“All is settled, my lord, only two of Cadell’s men survived and are being well guarded. The men claim to know nothing and say they only followed orders,” Stiles said.

“I find that unlikely,” Odran said. “I will give you a message in the morning to send to Lord Balloch of the Clan MacRae since they are his warriors and we will see what he says before I decide their fate.”

“How is Willa?” Elysia asked. “She was quite brave tonight and upset.”

“She does better than everyone, my lady, and is proud of her wounded lip,” Stiles said with a laugh, then shook his head. “Though she has not stopped complaining about losing her blackthorn stick.” He bobbed his head. “I will see you on the morn, my lord.”

Dorrit entered the room. “If there is nothing else you need, Lord Odran, I will see that all are told you have retired for the night.”

“We need nothing else, Dorrit,” Odran said and as soon as the door closed Odran began to disrobe. He stopped when he turned and saw a worried look on his wife’s face. His first thought was the bairn. “What’s wrong?”

“There is something we must do immediately if we want a modicum of peace in the clan.”

His worry over her eased, but his brow narrowed wondering what it could be. “What must we do?”

“We need to replace Willa’s blackthorn stick.”

Odran laughed. “There are probably quite a few people who wouldn’t agree with you.”

“And who do you think she’s going to complain to the most about not having her stick?”

“I’ll make sure she gets another one right away,” Odran said, thinking how the old woman would harangue him until he did.

“Good,” Elysia said with a smile.

Odran smiled as well. “Now, wife, let me help you wash.”